altar frontal A hanging in front of a church altar. altarpiece A panel, painted or sculpted, situated above and behind an altar. See also retable. ambo A church pulpit for biblical readings. ante legem Latin, “before the law.” In Christian thought, the period before Moses received the Ten Commandments. See sub legem. armature The crossed, or diagonal, arches that form the skeletal framework of a Gothic rib vault. In sculpture, the framework for a clay form. bar tracery Ornamental stonework for holding stained glass in place, characteristic of Gothic cathedrals. In plate tracery the glass fills only the punched holes in the heavy ornamental stonework. In bar tracery the stained­glass windows fill almost the entire opening, and the stonework is unobtrusive. battlement A low parapet at the top of a circuit wall in a fortification. blind arcade An arcade having no actual openings, applied as decoration to a wall surface. breviary A Christian religious book of selected daily prayers and psalms. buttress An exterior masonry structure that opposes the lateral thrust of an arch or a vault. A pier buttress is a solid mass of masonry; a flying buttress consists typically of an inclined member carried on an arch or a series of arches and a solid buttress to which it transmits lateral thrust. came A lead strip in a stained­glass window that joins separate pieces of colored glass. chantry An endowed chapel for the chanting of the masses for the founder of the chapel. cluster pier A pier with a group, or cluster, of attached shafts, or responds, especially characteristic of Gothic architecture. compound pier A pier with a group, or cluster, of attached shafts, or responds, especially characteristic of Gothic architecture. crenel Alternating solid merlons and open crenels in the notched tops of walls, as in battlements. crenellation Alternating solid merlons and open crenels in the notched tops of walls, as in battlements. diagonal rib A relatively slender, molded masonry arch that projects from a surface. In Gothic architecture, the ribs form the framework of the vaulting. A diagonal rib is one of the ribs that form the X of a groin vault. A transverse rib crosses the nave or aisle at a 90­degree angle. disputatio Latin, “logical argument.” The philosophical methodology used in Scholasticism. fan vault A masonry roof or ceiling constructed on the arch principle. A barrel or tunnel vault, semicylindrical in cross­section, is in effect a deep arch or an uninterrupted series of arches, one behind the other, over an oblong space. A quadrant vault is a half­barrel vault. A groin or cross vault is formed at the point at which two barrel vaults intersect at right angles. In a ribbed vault, there is a framework of ribs or arches under the intersections of the vaulting sections. A sexpartite vault is a vault whose ribs divide the vault into six compartments. A fan vault is a vault characteristic of English Perpendicular Gothic, in which radiating ribs form a fanlike pattern. Flamboyant A Late Gothic style of architecture superseding the Rayonnant style and named for the flamelike appearance of its pointed bar tracery. flashing In making stained­glass windows, fusing one layer of colored glass to another to produce a greater range of colors. fleur­de­lis A three­petaled iris flower; the royal flower of France. flying buttress An exterior masonry structure that opposes the lateral thrust of an arch or a vault. A pier buttress is a solid mass of masonry; a flying buttress consists typically of an inclined member carried on an arch or a series of arches and a solid buttress to which it transmits lateral thrust. glazier A glassworker. Gothic Originally a derogatory term named after the Goths, used to describe the history, culture, and art of western Europe in the 12th to 14th centuries. guild An association of merchants, craftspersons, or scholars in medieval and Renaissance Europe. hall church German, “hall church.” A church design favored in Germany, but also used elsewhere, in which the aisles rise to the same height as the nave. Hallenkirche German, “hall church.” A church design favored in Germany, but also used elsewhere, in which the aisles rise to the same height as the nave. indulgence A pardon for a sin committed. keep A fortified tower in a castle that served as a place of last refuge. lancet In Gothic architecture, a tall narrow window ending in a pointed arch. leading In the manufacture of stained­glass windows, the joining of colored glass pieces using lead cames. lux nova Latin, “new light.” Abbot Suger’s term for the light that enters a Gothic church through stained­glass windows. mendicants In medieval Europe, friars belonging to the Franciscan and Dominican orders, who renounced all worldly goods, lived by contributions of laypersons (the word mendicant means “beggar”), and devoted themselves to preaching, teaching, and doing good works. merlon Alternating solid merlons and open crenels in the notched tops of walls, as in battlements. moralized Bible A heavily illustrated Bible, each page pairing paintings of Old and New Testament episodes with explanations of their moral significance. mullion A vertical member that divides a window or that separates one window from another. oculus (pl. oculi) Latin, eye. The round central opening of a dome. Also, a small round window in a Gothic cathedral. ogee arch An arch made up of two double­curving lines meeting at a point. opere francigeno Latin, “modern work.” The late medieval term for Gothic art and architecture. Also called opus francigenum. opus francigenum Latin, “French work.” Architecture in the style of Gothic France; opere francigeno (adj.), “in the French manner.” opus modernum Latin, “modern work.” The late medieval term for Gothic art and architecture. Also called opus francigenum. pendant The large hanging terminal element of a Gothic fan vault. Pietà A painted or sculpted representation of the Virgin Mary mourning over the body of the dead Christ. pinnacle In Gothic churches, a sharply pointed ornament capping the piers or flying buttresses; also used on church facades. plate tracery Ornamental stonework for holding stained glass in place, characteristic of Gothic cathedrals. In plate tracery the glass fills only the punched holes in the heavy ornamental stonework. In bar tracery the stained­glass windows fill almost the entire opening, and the stonework is unobtrusive. psalter A book containing the Psalms. ramparts Defensive wall circuits. Rayonnant The adiant style of Gothic architecture, dominant in the second half of the 13th century and associated with the French royal court of Louis IX at Paris. respond An engaged column, pilaster, or similar element that either projects from a compound pier or some other supporting device or is bonded to a wall and carries one end of an arch. retable An architectural screen or wall above and behind an altar, usually containing painting, sculpture, carving, or other decorations. See also altarpiece. rib A relatively slender, molded masonry arch that projects from a surface. In Gothic architecture, the ribs form the framework of the vaulting. A diagonal rib is one of the ribs that form the X of a groin vault. A transverse rib crosses the nave or aisle at a 90­degree angle. rib vault A vault in which the diagonal and transverse ribs compose a structural skeleton that partially supports the masonry web between them. rose window A circular stained­glass window. Scholasticism The Gothic school of philosophy in which scholars applied Aristotle’s system of rational inquiry to the interpretation of religious belief. springing The lowest stone of an arch, resting on the impost block. In Gothic vaulting, the lowest stone of a diagonal or transverse rib. stained glass In Gothic architecture, the colored glass used for windows. sub gracia Latin, “under grace.” In Christian thought, the period after the coming of Christ. sub legem Latin, “under the law.” In Christian thought, the period after Moses received the Ten Commandments and before the coming of Christ. See sub gracia. tracery Ornamental stonework for holding stained glass in place, characteristic of Gothic cathedrals. In plate tracery the glass fills only the punched holes in the heavy ornamental stonework. In bar tracery the stained­glass windows fill almost the entire opening, and the stonework is unobtrusive. transverse rib A relatively slender, molded masonry arch that projects from a surface. In Gothic architecture, the ribs form the framework of the vaulting. A diagonal rib is one of the ribs that form the X of a groin vault. A transverse rib crosses the nave or aisle at a 90­degree angle. triforium In a Gothic cathedral, the blind arcaded gallery below the clerestory; occasionally the arcades are filled with stained glass. triptych A three­paneled painting or altarpiece. vault A masonry roof or ceiling constructed on the arch principle. A barrel or tunnel vault, semicylindrical in cross­section, is in effect a deep arch or an uninterrupted series of arches, one behind the other, over an oblong space. A quadrant vault is a half­barrel vault. A groin or cross vault is formed at the point at which two barrel vaults intersect at right angles. In a ribbed vault, there is a framework of ribs or arches under the intersections of the vaulting sections. A sexpartite vault is a vault whose ribs divide the vault into six compartments. A fan vault is a vault characteristic of English Perpendicular Gothic, in which radiating ribs form a fanlike pattern. vaulting web The masonry blocks that fill the area between the ribs of a groin vault. web In Gothic architecture, the masonry blocks that fill the area between the ribs of a groin vault.